EPA’s sewage demand meets strong resistance

Sand Island discharge exceeds federal limits

A tentative decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that would require the city to upgrade its Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant at an estimated cost of $800 million was met with widespread opposition last night at a public hearing.

To comment

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will accept public comment until March 31 on its decision to deny a city waiver to operate the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant without secondary treatment:
» Send e-mail to R9-301h-Comments@epa.gov, with attention to Sara Roser.
» Send mail to Sara Roser, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, WTR-5, 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105.
For more information call Roser at (415) 972-3513 or visit www.epa.gov.

Most of the about 150 people attending a hearing at Washington Middle School objected to the EPA's proposed action, siding with the city's position that its sewage system does not harm the environment and that the upgrade would unnecessarily burden taxpayers.

"I beseech you to reconsider that request so we can continue the work on our collection system so we don't have the type of spills we saw occur along Kalanianaole Highway and in Waikiki," said Mayor Mufi Hannemann, referring to two major sewer spills within the last three years.

The EPA announced last December a tentative decision to deny a waiver that allows the city to operate the Sand Island plant with just primary treatment. There is a similar decision pending for Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant, which would cost an additional $400 million, according to the city. EPA officials hope to have a final decision by September.

Honouliuli and Sand Island are the last of the 26 publicly owned plants in the state to operate without secondary treatment.

Primary treatment filters out large objects and grit, such as rags and small stones. Secondary treatment removes organic matter by exposing the waste water to bacteria.

According to the EPA, discharge coming from the plant exceeds toxicity, ammonia and pesticide levels as established by the state Department of Health that could harm sea life and those eating seafood. This puts it in violation of the federal Clean Water Act.

"The law is very clear," said Walter Nastri, the EPA regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "We're not trying to make this happen overnight. We recognize that we need to do this over time. But we do need to enter into an arrangement where we do have the commitment that that's going to be the case."

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mayor Mufi Hannemann urged the Environmental Protection Agency last night to reconsider a decision to deny a continued variance at the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. The EPA held a public hearing at Washington Intermediate School to hear citizens' concerns.

Outside the school along South King Street during busy rush hour traffic, about two dozen people stood with signs protesting against EPA's decision. Most of the sign holders were city and union workers, including several department directors.

Those who testified at the meeting were primarily worried about raising taxes to pay for the upgrades and would rather see the money spent on improving the city's aging sewer system.

"We are having a hard time affording to live here as it is," said Mililani resident Kuuipo McFadden, a sign holder. "If the EPA can prove to me it is detrimental to our environment, that's a different story. I really don't want to see our sewer fees go up."

Mike Simpson, one of the few who supported the EPA, said he does not want to swim in a place where there is waste contaminating the waters.

Simpson received several boos from the audience, including Hannemann. "Give us the Hawaii that we want," Simpson said.